The Thousand Mask Warrior

The Battle of the Shallow Sea Fourth Part - Lopes Francisco de Paula

Lopes Francisco de Paula never thought why he was so stupid, just as there are still many Pranggis, Walandas, Espanyolas and Britons in seeing the people in these Malay lands.

The people who live in this hot air are so great and majestic. They are strong, successful, clever, intelligent and also beautiful.

Look at these fleshy, strong-boned slender girls. Their clay bodies are covered in dark bark, wood and soil, sometimes as bright as old leaves. The smoothness of their body layers is matchless, he thought.

De Paula downing the distilled wine of the Malacca Malays. He was already half drunk, although the wine he drank was not his favorite. He really enjoyed the Betawi-made wine that had run out two days ago. Betawi Chinese distillate wine has high quality. He should get it again soon.

But, enough for today. While continuing to drink the intoxicating liquor, de Paula enjoyed the accompaniment of the tones and sounds of the outdoors, and, while in this spacious room he was accompanied by bodies of Malay and Javanese women dancing in front of him, naked, only a sheet of scarf linked around their necks as a means of movement. He did not want to share this beauty with anyone.

The naked bodies of the girls spread a wonderful fragrance for de Paula. This room was filled with the smell of jasmine mixed with their pure body odor, more intoxicating than wine, arousing him.

Pranggis are like all humans on this earth, de Paula thought. There is evil, there is good, there is in the middle, there is sad, there is happy and happy, there is poor, there is rich. There are Pranggis who come to this country for the great name and majesty of the country. There are those who seek to spread the word of joy in religion. Some are pure for power and wealth. Just fine, he thought.

But he hated people who claimed to glorify the state and religion, but in fact only the power he requested, only the wealth he hoped for.

De Paula laughed to herself. His snick mixed with the charming dark-skinned naked girls in front of him who were dancing and joking, also half drunk. Their firm and dense curves, challenging chest shoots and dark shaded bottoms really drove him crazy. He loves this country, he wants to die in this fertile land, to be the fertilizer of the spice plants that are contested by the countries of Caucasus and foreign countries.

Therefore, to remain in the Malay earth, he will do everything. He will help his country fight anyone, anyone who intends to expel Pranggi from the country of Malacca that they have controlled the fiber of the year.

He's not a hypocrite. He really likes the land, the air, the food, the taste of the female body and the mastery of the men of this country. He did not come for religion. He just wants to enjoy and master everything. The taste of pepper and cloves, the smell of sandalwood and barus, the rich heat of the sun, the clear flowing water. Everything has become a part of him. He won't let go of a single inch!

Although it is not easy for him who is a lowly officer of Pranggi state.

As he repeatedly said and reassured the officials and the rich Pranggi in Malacca, the army leaders and officers above him that the Malays, Acehnese, Toba, Nias, Ambonians, were, Timor and Larantuka, Bugis and Mangkasara, Java, Bali, Pasundan, Banjar and Daya, are reliable fighters without fear.

The men of these countries are very strong and good at fighting. On the ground, on the sea, on the mountains, on the rivers, in the forests ... The power of the Caucasians is always undermined, never calm. How not, de Paula saw with her own eyes the invulnerable archipelago troops bulletproof and sharp weapons, as strong as the armor of Pranggi troops.

Their courage defends the cultures, customs, religions and earths they incite unparalleled.

Were it not for their only weakness, any country would not have been able to touch their land at the tip of a finger. Yes, their only drawback is that they are easy to abuse. They have hot blood, often easily ignited anger. It doesn't matter if their opponents are one religion, one culture, even one blood. All small and large kingdoms have their own interests.

On the other hand, the rising Kingdom of Aceh also planted its power nails along the island and the Malay archipelago.

Wars continued between countries and kingdoms, large and small, even long before the Caucasians came to smell the aroma of spices. They then came by looking and observing the map of war and hostilities to take part or altogether dodge.

De Paula recalls that the failure of Mataram's attack on Betawi was due to Pranggi's refusal to pledge to help the attack from the sea. Mataram forgot the history that Demak was once hostile to Pranggi, even attacking Malacca which was occupied by the country first. How else, after all Mataram is a substitute for power in Java. Although, Pranggi should have helped the Mataram forces attack Walanda in Betawi, because now, Walanda began to itch after Malacca, where de Paula was located. And just like other Caucasian countries, Walanda also played a role with Malay countries to find a gap to subdue Pranggi in Malacca. It was the Sultanate of Johor-Riau who became their partner.

The Malay Sultanate was built from the descendants of the displaced Sultan of Malacca, so clearly they feel they are still entitled to the Malay territory that was originally controlled by the Malacca Sultanate in the past.

Complicated, but it will be fun if this map is mastered well.

Lopes Francico de Paula laughs. Arak flowed out from the sidelines of his mouth. Maybe he was almost completely drunk, but his brain remained clear and continued to work with arithmetic and big plans.

He tried to get up, but fell. He laughed loudly, followed by the laughter of the plain-bodied women. He woke up again and staggered to embrace two women at once. The three fell while continuing to laugh.

Berahi already piled on the top of the head of this Pranggi man. His thick blonde mustache and beard were wet with an intoxicating liquid, but without a second thought, he buried his face into the chests of the women who were laughing so well.

***

It happened a few days ago. Lopes Francisco de Paula has started to miss the wine and the undressed women again.

But he's on duty now. He carried out the great task of the state: to pit the nations of this archipelago against self-destruction so that Walanda would lose the help and support, strength and courage to tamper with Malacca.

This incident in shallow waters is just a small example, a beautiful game of pawns.

He himself stood disguised on the deck of a Mangkasara-style ship, wearing native clothes and headbands, though his pale skin could not lie in contrast to the local people and the bumiputra. His one eye was on the binoculars, watching the incredible spectacle that was taking place above the shallow sea level.

Behind him, a line of native warriors devoted to him, swearing fealty to death under his leadership. The Acehnese swordsmen, Toba, former Nias slaves, warriors and pirates Bugis and Mangkasara, the crew who were also Balinese warriors, some of the firing squad from Ambonia and Flores, and the captain from Semarang gathered ready to take orders.